Day Trips With 2 Regional Passes


Our previous post "2 Great Regional Passes to Explore Central Japan" introduced TWO best Passes to explore Central Japan.  One is Kintetsu Rail Pass Plus and the other is JR Ise-Kumano-Wakayama Area Tourist Pass.  

Here in this post, we will provide a little more detailed information on recommended places to visit with 1) both of the Passes and 2) Kintetsu Rail Pass Plus (its focus is on Nara City) and 3) JR Tourist Pass (its focus is on Kumano and Wakayama).  

1) Recommended Places to Visit with both Kintetsu and JR Passes

In Mie Prefecture;

  • Ise Jingu Shrine
  • Meoto Iwa
  • Matsuzaka (Matsuzaka Beef)
  • Iga Ryu Ninjya Museum
Ise Jingu Shrine (English: Ise Grand Shrine) in Ise City
This Shrine is a Shinto Shrine dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami (the sun goddess Amaterasu) and a special spiritual meaning to Japanese people.  It is composed of a lot of shrines, which are located in Outer Shrine (外宮) and Inner Shrine (内宮).  Both Shrines should be visited once you visit this Ise Jingu Shrine.   

Meoto Iwa (the Married Couple Rocks in the ocean) in Futami and Mikimoto Pearl Island in Toba City.
Meoto Iwa is two rocks connected to each other with thick ropes.  Meoto literally means "husband" and "wife" in Japanese.  This Coupled Rocks are a symbol of tight-wedded vow and worshiped by visiting couples.  The ropes are also sacred and replaced with new ones three times a year.  On November 22,  a unique event, in which visiting couples shout their love to the rocks, takes place here.  
If you are interested in pearl, you can visit Mikimoto Pearl Ialand, where Mr. Mikimoto first started cultivating pearl in Japan.  High quality pearl can be purchaed on this Island. 

Matsuzaka Beef (Marbled Beef) in Matsusaka City
Less known than Kobe Beef (Marbled Beef in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture), Matsuzaka Beef is also one of the best marbled beef in Japan.  You can enjoy its steak, shabushabu (thin-sliced beef squished in a hot pot), sukiyaki (beef simmered with vegetables in soy-saurce-based broth) and others.

Iga-ryu Ninjya Museum in Iga City
This Ninjya Museum is dedicated to the history of Ninja of the Iga clan.  After the tour of Ninajya House (tricks and devices of the hideout are shown) by Ninjya, you can experience Ninja and learn Ninjyutsu (the art of Ninja) there.  (the last link is available only in Japanese, but gives you some sense of this Museum.)

    2) Recommended Places to Visit with Kintetsu Rail Pass Plus

    In Nara City;

    • Kofukuji Temple
    • Toudaiji Temple
    • Kasuga Taisha Shrine
    • Toshodaiji Temple
    • Yakushiji Temple
    • Horyuji Temple
    At JR Nara Station OR Kintetsu Nara Station, you should get the bus map at Bus Information Center.  And take a No. 77 bus, which goes east and leads to Kofukuji Temple, Nara Park, Todaiji Temple, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine.  You can walk around in Nara Park (while feeding deer, YES, you can feed dear in the Park).  Then, take a No. 78 or 98 bus to go west.  This No 78 or 98 bus takes you to Toshodaiji Temple,  Yakushiji Temple, and Horyuji Temple.  (All these 6 temples and 1 shrines are World Heritage Sites and worth visiting.)  We would wait for a No. 98 bus, not No. 78, if possible, because only a No. 98 bus takes you directly to Horyuji Temple.  Then, you can take a No. 97 or 77 bus back to JR Nara Station/Kintetsu Nara Station.  (Click the above link of the bus map for more detailed info.)

    3) Recommended Places to Visit with JR Ise-Kumano-Wakayama Area Tourist Pass

    With this Pass, you can visit Kumano in Mie Prefecture and Shingu and Nachi in Wakayama Prefecture.   

    • Kawayu Onsen and Katsuura Onsen (Katsuura and Katsuura Hot Springs)
    Kumano Kodo (ancient pilgrimage routes) is a path leading through secluded mountainous area to reach Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine.  Since ancient times, people of all ranks, from emperors, noblemen, and commoners, have walked as a pilgrim to pay respect to the Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine, while purifying their body and soul on the way.  By walking along the Path, YOU can experience what it was like to make pilgrimage to the Shrine and at the Shrine, you might find your body and soul cleansed.  Yes, with the JR Tourist Pass, you can take a bus from Shingu Station to the Shrine, but  walking is highly recommended.

    Kumano Nachi Taisha Grand Shrine can be accessed by Kumano Kotsu Bus from Nachi Station.   Since Nachi Taisha Grand Shrine is one of the three pilgrimage destinations (along with Hongu Taisha Shrine and Hayatama Taisha Shrine), this Shrine has been worshiped.  Nachi no Taki, or Waterfall Nachi, which is the highest waterfall in Japan, is closeby and emits spiritual auras to the awed viewers. 

    Nachi Katsuura boasts hot springs, among of which are Kawayu Onsen and Katsuura Onsen.  Kawayu Onsen is an open-air hot spring IN the river along the Kumano Kodo while Katsuura Onsen is on the seashore.  When you soak your exhausted body in the Katsuura hot spring at Hotel Urashima, which we strongly recommend, you would feel as if you were floating in the ocean. 

    Enjoy Your Great Trip!!

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